Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated November 19, 2019
In a live surrounding, many guitar players often find themselves too confined by the very physical limitation of having just two hands and one instrument.
Sure, having a rhythm player or a bassist is awesome, but it's difficult to place the exact musical idea you have into their brains instantaneously during gigs. And while you can improvise with your band and bring that special kind of magic, a looper pedal is
an essential guitar effect device that will allow you to express your own stuff just the way you imagined it.
Anyhow, "What is a loop pedal for guitar?", you ask. Well, a looper is essentially a device that records a desired segment of your performance and then puts it on a loop. But that's not where things end because you can put additional effects to that original recording, such as pitch adjustments, speed adjustments, and more.
Top 10 Best Looper Pedals:
Overall, this pedal is popular mostly among live performers, as all of these effects can be easily attained in a studio environment. Anyhow, we took the liberty of sifting through today's market in an attempt to find the best guitar looper out there. We took a fair portion of these bad boys out for a spin, and can confidently say that each of the fellas listed abovr are worthy of that flattering title within their respective price range.
And that about wraps up our rundown! We would not like to dive into a variety of extra tips, tricks and open discussions on things you should know when purchasing one of these puppies. If you're still uncertain about which looper to buy – and whether you need a looper in the first place – read on!
What to look for when buying a loop pedal for guitar
Much like any pedal, loopers have their own string of objective factors to watch out for. While we realize that each of our lovely readers have their personal preferences, a certain string of criteria can be drawn on what makes a good loop pedal.
First and foremost, the recorded sound needs to be authentic and organic. Any sort of poor rendering or sonic interference are instant red flag raisers for us, and we strongly discarded each and every item we encountered that couldn't match this basic demand.
But then, we reach the point where a question needs to be asked: "Do you need more?" Are you satisfied with just the basic look function – which is quite alright in our book – or are you after some extra options. For example, a tap tempo feature is something many users seek, as well as a rhythm function. Further on up the road, you can such nifty details as various pitch changers, a Reverse button, and more.
But never allow yourself to get carried away with all the extra perks, because the quality of the basic loop audio output is the absolute crucial matter here.
Apart from that, some of the usual criteria apply – sturdy construction, reliability of electric circuits and pedal in general, value for money, and some pretty looks on the side if possible. Note that while sifting through the market, we took each of the listed factors into the equation while keeping the sound quality on top.
What difference does a number of footswitches make?
A great difference! More footswitches means more control. There's a variety of functions that switches do – starting the recording, stopping the playback, erasing the loop, and more – and it's much more convenient to have at least two switches to use. Manufacturers are well aware of this, and that's why the expensive models utilize at least three footswitches.
So how exactly does it work then? Well, you still have all the functions in single-switch models, but you'll have to learn how to tap dance over 'em. For example, to start the recording you will need to just tap the button once; to stop the recording, you need to double-tap it, and to erase the recorded loop, you need to hold the button down.
If you're on a budget, but would like the convenience of extra footswitches, there's an option to connect external footswitches to some pedals, so keep your eyes peeled for those.
Should I watch out for loop length?
Loop length might seem like a big deal, but it's actually not. The thing is – most pedals offer more than enough recording time. When you thing about it, the majority of players will hardly need more than one minute of recording time to lay down the track to loop, and even the most affordable stomp-boxes often offer around 10 minutes of recording time.
Should I watch out for loop storage?
Many loop pedals don't have internal storage and discard the loops as soon as they are turned off or another loop is added. But if you want to be able to remember the loops you laid down for future use, you will want to consider getting pedals with internal storage. Some products have a certain amount of built-in space, while more advanced models even feature an option to insert an external SDHC card and store the goods there.
What's the difference between mono and stereo loopers?
When it comes to output, stereo outputs allow you to run the pedal through a stereo rig, or through separate amps. As far as stereo inputs go, having two In jacks allows you to conduct some pretty cool experiments. For example, you can plug in a microphone to your second input and use it to add various percussive instruments to your loop. You can also add vocals or pretty much anything that can be recorded via a microphone.
Do I really need the loop effects?
Well, to be honest – no, not really. Not that there's not a chance you'll like this stuff, but the majority of these effects gets discarded as gimmicky in our book. What we mean by loop effects is stuff like the "1/2 Speed" feature, or the "Lo-Fi Filter," or "Reverse" option.
For example, the "Reverse" button takes the loop you recorded and plays it backwards, which might sound cool, but the practice has shown that the majority of players use this feature a few times when they buy the pedal because it's fun, but as soon as they start performing regularly and get accustomed to the device, they pretty much never touch that button again.
What's the best way to use a loop pedal
A frequent question among musicians is, "Can I use a loop pedal in the studio?" Well, technically you can, but it is kinda pointless. The main thing about the looper is to allow you to create a backing rhythm section or even a few melodic lead lines to support you while performing on your own. In studio environment, it's pretty simple to record as many backing tracks as you like, but that becomes an entirely different story during gigs.
Therefore, the best way to use these bad boys is during shows or while busking on your own. Many street performers heavily rely on loopers with exceptional results, so keep that in mind as well.
Additionally, there's more to loopers than just live performance, as they stand out as one of the top tools for beginner musicians to practice their chops on. You can use a loop pedal to practice guitar solos by recording rhythm parts to spin around until you nail the stuff. If your pedal has the ability to import audio files, you can also take the song you like and dissect it through pitch- and tempo-changing features. They also say that nothing gets one's creative juices flowing like a loop pedal, but we'll leave that up to you to discover.
Do any famous musicians use a looper?
Yes, of course they do. For example, Mr. Ed Sheeran is known for rocking a Boss looper during shows, and so did the mighty late great Les Paul. Other notable loop wielders include Robert Fripp of King Crimson, U2's The Edge, jazz titan Pat Metheny, Queen's Brian May, Mal Webb, Reggie Watts, Gavin Castleton, and many, many more.
How much money should I spend on a good loop pedal?
The answer to this question heavily depends on how much do you plan to use the looper during your performance. If you're after a decent one-switch looper, $70 to $80 will suffice. However, if you really want the killer goods, a versatile beast with a variety of functions to turn you into a one-man army, a figure of $500 can be easily reached.
Do I need to get any accessories with a loop pedal?
Not really, loopers operate as standard pedals and require almost zero additional investments. You will of course need a standard power adapter or 9V batteries to power them - and those are commonly not included in the price – plus a pair of cables to connect the device with your guitar and amp or recording tool, but that's about it. If you get past the number of two or three pedals in your collection, we recommend getting a pedalboard, but that's another matter and something you should consult our list of Best Guitar Pedalboards for.
New vs. used guitar looper
We have to point out that loopers are intricate pedals with advanced electronics that are best not tinkered with and best purchased new. We're not saying that you can't get a top deal in the second-hand market, but we are definitely pointing out that you should be extra careful if you decide to delve into that realm. If you're uncertain about your skills to estimate the functionality of a used guitar looper, at least bring along someone who can.
Conclusion
And we have thus reached the end of our loop odyssey! We hope that you have enjoyed the ride, make sure to stay tuned for best deals on the web. The final step now is to jot down your personal needs, preferences and available spending budget, single out your own best guitar looper and treat yourself with one of these bad boys as early as today. Good stuff!